ROMANTIC WARRIOR’s effort to finish second in the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m) in Riyadh is one of the best performances ever produced by a Hong Kong horse overseas, beating all but dirt course champion FOREVER YOUNG who capped an incredible night for Japan by winning in race record time.
While all honours rest with FOREVER YOUNG, his trainer Yoshito Yahagi and brilliant young jockey Ryusei Sakai, ROMANTIC WARRIOR was outstanding in rare defeat and almost sealing what would have been an extraordinary win under James McDonald.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR was beaten by only a neck by FOREVER YOUNG, who is proven on dirt in Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, and his effort to come so close to historic victory was a superb performance on an unfamiliar surface.
There was a margin of more than 10 lengths to the third horse USHBA TESORO, who is a Dubai World Cup winner and twice winner of Japan’s prestigious G1 Tokyo Daishoten on dirt. ROMANTIC WARRIOR was only caught at the wire by the world’s best dirt horse, which is an outstanding achievement in overcoming significant challenges including kickback.
Unfortunately, James had to move early on ROMANTIC WARRIOR to avoid kickback and tiring horses approaching the home turn and the task of keeping him in front the length of the whole straight made the difference in the end.
I congratulate owner Mr Peter Lau and trainer Danny Shum for showing the world-class quality of Hong Kong racing on the global stage.
The difficulty of competing on the powdery dirt at King Abdulaziz racecourse against the world’s best horses on the surface cannot be under-estimated and it is a credit to ROMANTIC WARRIOR that he came so close to claiming a famous victory.
In again proving what a world-class horse he is on dirt as the winner of last year’s Saudi Derby and finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, FOREVER YOUNG’s win in the Saudi Cup capped a glorious meeting for Japan with the victories of SHIN EMPEROR, ASCOLI PICENO and BYZANTINE DREAM.
I congratulate our Japanese friends for another remarkable set of achievements on the international stage.
The World Pool fixture at Caulfield on Saturday (22 February) also delivered some wonderful racing highlights and I would like to congratulate Mr Zhang Yuesheng for his three winners at the prestigious meeting.
Mr Zhang currently races RAMADAN and ALSONSO in Hong Kong with Mark Newnham and he has made significant investments on the global racing stage.
I congratulate him with his achievement in winning the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) with DEVIL NIGHT, who was ridden by Michael Dee, the G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes (1400m) with TREASURETHE MOMENT for Damian Lane and the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) with DENY KNOWLEDGE under Mark Zahra.
The World Pool programme continues at Sha Tin today with the G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup, which is carded as Race 5 and run over 1400m at 3pm for prizemoney of HK$13 million.
The pace should be good with KA YING RISING (Karis Teetan) having enough early speed to lead from barrier nine. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE (Brenton Avdulla) and BEAUTY ETERNAL (Andrea Atzeni) should be prominent.
KA YING RISING has won nine races in a row and his brilliant victory in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup on 19 January, where he broke his own track record for 1200m, saw him posted the highest-rated sprinter in the world. KA YING RISING extends beyond 1200m for the first time in his career, but there is nothing in his pedigree or racing style to suggest the additional 200m will be a problem for him. He has been in Conghua since his last win and is my win and place selection.
HELIOS EXPRESS (Hugh Bowman) has been placed behind KA YING RISING at his past four runs, including second placings in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint and Centenary Sprint Cup at his last two start. HELIOS EXPRESS has been settling back in the field and running on and has won to 1800m with victory last year in the Hong Kong Classic Cup. HELIOS EXPRESS has been working very well and the 1400m might be his best distance and he is, in my view, the main danger to KA YING RISING.
HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE (Ben Thompson) won the G3 Bauhinia Sprint on the straight 1000m course on 1 January and then ran well in the Centenary Sprint Cup last start when third behind KA YING RISING and HELIOS EXPRESS. HOWDEEPISYOURLOVE is in great form and working well. He has shown his best form up to 1200m and the 1400m is a little bit of a question mark. He also a place chance.
CALIFORNIA SPANGLE turned around indifferent form last year to win this race in brilliant fashion over GALAXY PATCH and BEAUTY ETERNAL, before winning the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai. CALIFORNIA SPANGLE again comes into the race in an apparent form slump but is capable of improvement and is a place chance.
PATCH OF THETA (Harry Bentley) was a little disappointing in the G1 Stewards’ Cup where he pulled and lacked his usual dash. He will get more pace over this shorter distance and is still a place chance for me.
The G1 CITI Hong Kong Gold Cup is carded as Race 7 and will be run over 2000m at 4.05pm for prizemoney of HK$13 million.
The pace should be good with SWORD POINT (Andrea Atzeni) leading, VOYAGE BUBBLE (James McDonald) holding the rails behind the leader and WINNING DRAGON (Harry Bentley) also settling in the first three.
VOYAGE BUBBLE is at the peak of his powers after winning the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile over a world-class field including Japanese star SOUL RUSH, before posting a commanding victory from GALAXY PATCH in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 19 January. VOYAGE BUBBLE is a BMW Hong Kong Derby winner over this distance and ran ROMANTIC WARRIOR to a neck in this race last year. He looked good in a recent trial and is my win and place selection.
GALAXY PATCH (Blake Shinn) has run twice beyond 1600m for a brave second to MASSIVE SOVEREIGN in last year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby and an easy win in the Premier Plate (1800m). GALAXY PATCH is working very well and was unlucky in his last run when blocked at the 400m. He is, in my view, the main danger to VOYAGE BUBBLE and, with Blake in the saddle, he will come with a strong late run.
ENSUED (Karis Teetan) ran well when fourth in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in December before finishing third to CHANCHENG GLORY in the Centenary Vase (1800m) on 31 January. ENSUED will appreciate the extra distance and is a place chance.
CHANCHENG GLORY (Hugh Bowman) won the Centenary Vase comfortably and is also a place chance.
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